2015 Farmer's Insurance Open (at Torrey Pines) Discussion Thread

[MiniBlueDragon]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MiniBlueDragon

Taken out of context much? How about we add the rest of the quote in there? Here, allow me:

Not taken out of context at all.  You (strongly) implied that he fakes injury when he's playing like crap.  The fact that you hedged after that with an alternative option does not change that first comment in the least.  By itself, or with the addition, it still means that you think maybe he's faking it.

And my response (to both of you) was just to remind you that he didn't do any of that last week, so it's a bit disingenuous to suggest to suggest that "whenever he plays bad" he does this.

If it wasn't taken out of context you'd have quoted me in full. :P

I absolutely 100% think it could be a real injury. When the body is doing things it's not done before it can cause injury and he's changed his swing a fair amount. He even said he felt his explosiveness had come back which suggests too much strain on the body.

I also 100% think it could be Tiger having had enough of how he's playing and withdrawing through frustration.

I can also see him having an injury which he'd normally work through but when he's not doing well it's the perfect excuse not to carry on (Harry Redknapp's knee injury the day after he failed to sign anybody in the January transfer window is another prime example; he has dodgy knees but in my mind would have continued to the end of the season is the team weren't second to bottom with 0 away wins and no new talent coming in to help save them from relegation)

I haven't a clue which it is and wouldn't be surprised with any of them being the truth.

[9iron]

We can all learn a lesson from Tiger Woods. Before you go out on the course make sure to get Activated.

Activate all the muscles that need activating. Then stay activated thru your round.

[golfbarefoot]

Tiger is in trouble. His ball striking is in turmoil. Where are all the yips dudes though? It's quiet because he chipped well, even chipped in today. It's his overall game stinks. Even though he just birdied the hole before and was even par before the last hole he pulled out. (dbl) Actually birdied 2 of 4 holes. It's all very odd. No one can predict the future but Woods is in deep trouble. Im actually starting to wonder about this.. The timing is also odd. [URL]http://m.espn.go.com/general/story?storyId=4744216&src;=desktop[/URL]

[Big C]

If it wasn't taken out of context you'd have quoted me in full. :P

I absolutely 100% think it could be a real injury. When the body is doing things it's not done before it can cause injury and he's changed his swing a fair amount. He even said he felt his explosiveness had come back which suggests too much strain on the body.

I also 100% think it could be Tiger having had enough of how he's playing and withdrawing through frustration.

I can also see him having an injury which he'd normally work through but when he's not doing well it's the perfect excuse not to carry on (Harry Redknapp's knee injury the day after he failed to sign anybody in the January transfer window is another prime example; he has dodgy knees but in my mind would have continued to the end of the season is the team weren't second to bottom with 0 away wins and no new talent coming in to help save them from relegation)

I haven't a clue which it is and wouldn't be surprised with any of them being the truth.

Fair enough. I'm sure Tiger would have WD'ed from the US Open in 2008 if he had been 9 over par and out of contention. There are times when you decide it's worth playing through injury, even if it causes your body further damage and/or potentially shortens your career. This wasn't one of those times obviously. I don't think it's fair to state (or even imply) that Tiger was exaggerating his injury, because there isn't any good evidence that this is the case. But I think your follow up comment is on target.

[David in FL]

He said his glutes didn't activate. I hate when that happens.

So, by his own words, he withdrew because his butt was stiff?! Nothing at all about a recurrence of the previous back injury...... Wow.

[ScouseJohnny]

This is sad to watch.

However, he's a relatively young man who has earned an incredible amount of money, and no doubt can continue to profit significantly from golf related enterprises even if he is no longer competing in tournaments.

Maybe it's time to pack it in before he ends up crippled.

[The Recreational Golfer]

His glutes didn't activate? That sounds to me like a nerve thing, which sounds to me like a spine problem.

It took me two years after my spine surgeries to be able to swing the club again without it disturbing my back.

[Rick Martin]

Couldn't watch past the fifth hole, but silver lining is that he doesn't appear to have a full blow case of the yips - hit several decent wedge shots......

Now if he can figure how how to hit the full swing without injuring himself......

[3putter]

I can't seem to understand the angle from those who think he might be faking . He didn't withdraw when he stunk up the joint with an 82, but he just couldn't bare the shame of being +2? He had his best short game day of the year today, but he probably just withdrew because that lone double bogey must have seal his fate for making the cut, right? You would think the guy actually had a history of faking injuries, instead he has a history of playing in spite of them.

[Hammer 4]

I'm no expert, but having a bad back for 50 years, I could see lately that Tiger was exhibiting some symptoms that his back wasn't anywhere near 100%. His poor chipping was an example. With back pain or cramping, you tend Not to stay in the shot, you want to stand up asap, which I know all to well about.

Hate to say it, but I could see it coming,  just didn't want to say anything, well, just in case I was wrong, now I know. It's really to bad, I think he should have taken at least 6 months off, not the barley 3. The more you re-injure something, the longer it takes for it to heel, if it ever does, and right now, I'm betting Tiger wished he had taken that extra 3 months for rehab.

Was just not good to see him struggle like that. I hope he does what's necessary to heel up, even if means retiring, your hrealth is more important than money, imho.

[David in FL]

I can't seem to understand the angle from those who think he might be faking . He didn't withdraw when he stunk up the joint with an 82, but he just couldn't bare the shame of being +2? He had his best short game day of the year today, but he probably just withdrew because that lone double bogey must have seal his fate for making the cut, right? You would think the guy actually had a history of faking injuries, instead he has a history of playing in spite of them.

Exactly. When he's playing well, and in contention, he's an iron man, and can win a U.S. Open with a fractured leg. When he's playing poorly a stiff but cheek causes him to WD without even running by the PT trailer...... That's the problem when someone demonstrates a lack of character and integrity in one aspect of his life. There are those who will wonder if those same character flaws might carry over to other areas as well.

[ChrisP]

This is the issue going forward....he's going to have to overhaul his swing completely, even moreso than he's done already. He's going to have to find a way where he can swing without putting pressure on his back. That means Tiger Woods, in order to compete, is going to have to do so with a swing that's nothing like he won 14 majors with. I'm not a prognosticator by any means, but that is going to be one hell of a tough challenge for him to do. I just don't know if he can do it. But he has to try because his back simply cannot take the strain he's trying to put on it with his swing.

I really, truly hope Tiger can make it back because he's great for the game of golf, but I have serious doubts whether he can make it back to even an "average golfer" type of level.

[k-troop]

Exactly. When he's playing well, and in contention, he's an iron man, and can win a U.S. Open with a fractured leg. When he's playing poorly a stiff but cheek causes him to WD without even running by the PT trailer...... That's the problem when someone demonstrates a lack of character and integrity in one aspect of his life. There are those who will wonder if those same character flaws might carry over to other areas as well.

Bingo. At least it wasn't 3 straight missed cuts.

[teeitup22]

I'm no expert, but having a bad back for 50 years, I could see lately that Tiger was exhibiting some symptoms that his back wasn't anywhere near 100%. His poor chipping was an example. With back pain or cramping, you tend Not to stay in the shot, you want to stand up asap, which I know all to well about.

Hate to say it, but I could see it coming,  just didn't want to say anything, well, just in case I was wrong, now I know. It's really to bad, I think he should have taken at least 6 months off, not the barley 3. The more you re-injure something, the longer it takes for it to heel, if it ever does, and right now, I'm betting Tiger wished he had taken that extra 3 months for rehab.

Was just not good to see him struggle like that. I hope he does what's necessary to heel up, even if means retiring, your hrealth is more important than money, imho.

I don't think Tiger is after more $$. He knows his time is running out, and he wants to get more majors would be my guess. He's on the back nine (as Rory said) of his career and he may be on the 15th hole right now.

[Hammer 4]

I don't think Tiger is after more $$. He knows his time is running out, and he wants to get more majors would be my guess. He's on the back nine (as Rory said) of his career and he may be on the 15th hole right now.

Maybe true re: the majors. Still, he needs to heal up. I'm sure if was healthy, he could play into his mid 40's, with his back problems he won't. I think we all know he doesn't need the $$$, yet he still takes on new sponsors. What I would like to know is what his doctors think..and what advice they would give to Tiger about continuing playing.

As far as faking, not a chance, I can tell by his body language, he's in pain.

[3putter]

Exactly. When he's playing well, and in contention, he's an iron man, and can win a U.S. Open with a fractured leg. When he's playing poorly a stiff but cheek causes him to WD without even running by the PT trailer......

Very good point, however, age plays an important role in being able to display that "iron man" ability. Couple the aged body with the severity of a back injury, and the desire to still wanna have a golfing career, I think it's pretty clear how exercising caution by pulling out is more prudent than staying in the tourney

That's the problem when someone demonstrates a lack of character and integrity in one aspect of his life. There are those who will wonder if those same character flaws might carry over to other areas as well.

This is a very popular point amongst some people, but just as he has shown no history of faking injuries, he also has no history of lacking respect and integrity for the game of golf. Does his personal shortcomings necessarily mean he can't be trusted again? No. I find it easy to overlook his personal shortcomings because...(I'll let personal things remain personal). The man I am now, and the man I was then are 2 different individuals. People who want to change, change. Sorry if any of this is off topic for the thread.

[mvmac]

http://thegolfnewsnet.com/golfnewsnetteam/2015/02/05/tiger-woods-glute-activation-talking-about-9590/

Quote:

It sounds made up, activating your glutes. But it’s a real thing, and it’s important to an athlete’s strength.

The glutes are central muscles for generating power in the golf swing. They help the hips to flex optimally and the legs to fire with maximum power. They also are key muscles in preventing back pain. If the muscles aren’t well-developed, the lower body can often perform compensating movements in the upper thigh and lower back that lead to injuries.

Woods needs strong gluteal muscles — the biggest muscle group in the body — to protect his back. Last March, Woods has microdiscectomy surgery to relieve pain he had been dealing with for nearly a year. On top of protecting his back, Woods’ glutes are key to creating the torque and generating the leg strength needed to hit the ball as far as he’d like with his new-but-old swing.

[Zeph]

Isn't he getting enough glute activation from Lindsey?